Author: Daily Sabah With Agencies

U.S. President Joe Biden said Washington would attempt to reach a cease-fire deal in Gaza with Türkiye, Qatar, Egypt, Israel and others, as he welcomed the cease-fire agreement between Israel and Lebanon on Wednesday. “Now Hamas has a choice to make. Their only way out is to release the hostages, including American citizens, which they hold, and, in the process, bring an end to the fighting, which would make possible a surge of humanitarian relief,” Biden said. “Over the coming days, the United States will make another push with Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Israel and others to achieve a cease-fire in…

The heart of a young Galatasaray fan who lost his life in a traffic accident now beats in a Fenerbahçe supporter, embodying a message of shared humanity beyond rivalry. On Nov. 7, 9-year-old Yiğit Kurt, a budding footballer at Galatasaray Sports Academy, was on his way to Istanbul with his father, Serkan Kurt, to watch the Galatasaray-Tottenham match. Their journey took a tragic turn in Balıkesir’s Susurluk district when their car collided with a truck. Both father and son were rushed to the hospital, but while Serkan Kurt recovered, Yiğit Kurt’s fight ended on Nov. 12 when his brain activity…

The heart of a young Galatasaray fan who lost his life in a traffic accident now beats in a Fenerbahçe supporter, embodying a message of shared humanity beyond rivalry. On Nov. 7, 9-year-old Yiğit Kurt, a budding footballer at Galatasaray Sports Academy, was on his way to Istanbul with his father, Serkan Kurt, to watch the Galatasaray-Tottenham match. Their journey took a tragic turn in Balıkesir’s Susurluk district when their car collided with a truck. Both father and son were rushed to the hospital, but while Serkan Kurt recovered, Yiğit Kurt’s fight ended on Nov. 12 when his brain activity…

Since the implementation of Greece’s visa-on-arrival program for Turkish citizens on April 1, 2024, over 100,000 Turkish tourists have crossed the Greek islands, sparking a boom in regional tourism. The scheme, which allows Turkish nationals to visit select Greek islands for short stays with a 60 euros ($63) entry fee, has been hailed as a major success by both Greek and Turkish officials. The announcement came during a recent meeting between Greek Minister of Shipping Christos Stylianidis and Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu in Istanbul, where both ministers emphasized the positive economic and diplomatic impact of the program. “This program has…

A yoga session held at the 1,700-year-old Mor Yuhanna Syriac Church in southeastern Türkiye’s Mardin has sparked backlash from members of the Syriac community. The session, organized by a Turkish yoga instructor, drew criticism after its images were shared on social media. Seda Deliormanlı, who led the session in the church, apologized following the reactions, emphasizing that she had obtained all necessary permissions beforehand. “I sincerely apologize to the Mor Yuhanna Church and anyone I may have offended. If I had anticipated that even one person would be disturbed by the brief yoga session, I would have never done it,”…

The YPG, the Syrian wing of the PKK terrorist group, has stepped up its attacks in the country’s north over the past few days, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor reported Monday, with 11 people, including civilians, killed in the fresh round of violence. “A woman, her two children and a man were killed in the bombing of a military position,” the Britain-based monitor said. It said seven opposition army members were also killed in that incident. YPG members forces infiltrated the opposition forces’ military position and killed three fighters, said the monitor with a network of sources…

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Monday hailed “invaluable” contributions from Türkiye to the defense bloc ahead of his meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the capital Ankara. “In an increasingly unpredictable world, Türkiye makes invaluable contributions to our Alliance, reinforcing deterrence on our Southern flank,” Rutte told Anadolu Agency (AA) in a statement. He said he was “looking forward to meeting” with Erdoğan to discuss major global issues, including the war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East. “I am looking forward to meeting President Erdoğan to discuss the growing challenges to our collective security – including…

Eleven were killed and eight others were injured when the YPG, the Syrian wing of the terrorist group PKK, attempted to infiltrate into a territory held by the Syrian opposition forces on Sunday. Local media outlets reported clashes broke out near al-Bab and heightened violence forced authorities to close schools on Monday. Also on Monday, the Turkish Ministry of National Defense announced seven PKK/YPG terrorists were eliminated in operations in the “Operation Euphrates Shield” area, which also covers al-Bab. Anadolu Agency (AA) reported that YPG terrorists tried to enter safe zones in Manbij, firing at guards. A deadly clash ensued…

A strong winter storm has blanketed Erzurum, Erzincan and Tunceli in Türkiye, leading to severe disruptions in daily life and transportation. In Erzurum, northeastern Türkiye, heavy snow began on Saturday night and continued into Sunday morning, causing chaos for drivers and pedestrians. Snow accumulation reached up to 50 centimeters (20 inches) in some areas, including the Palandöken Ski Resort. The snowfall brought much joy to the children, who played in the snow for hours. With schools closed due to the snowstorm, children took advantage of the day off by sledding and starting snowball fights in the streets. Local parks and…

Arda Güler’s mesmerizing display in Real Madrid’s 3-0 win against Leganes on Sunday has set social media abuzz and captivated the Spanish press. A standout moment came in the 15th minute when the Turkish sensation executed a dazzling dribble, leaving Estadio Municipal de Butarque in awe. Making the most of his start in the lineup, Güler showcased his immense talent with an assist and several brilliant plays that underlined his readiness to take on a pivotal role at Real Madrid. Twice, he came agonizingly close to scoring but was thwarted at the final moment. Despite these near misses, his performance…